Sangrur (Punjab): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was finishing 'farmers and labourers' with the three farms laws just as he had 'destroyed' small shopkeepers with demonetisation and GST.
Addressing a gathering in this Punjab town, Gandhi also asked the BJP-led Centre why it was in a hurry to bring the laws when there was a pandemic on.
“Like he (Modi) finished small shopkeepers and small-medium businesses with GST (Goods and Services Tax) and demonetisation, he is finishing farmers and labourers the same way and slashing your throats with these three laws,” he said.
Gandhi underscored the need for improving the food procurement and Public Distribution System and acknowledged that they had shortcomings.
“There is a need to strengthen this system. More mandis need to be set up. There is a need to guarantee MSP (minimum support price). There is need to give infrastructure to farmers. there is need to set up silos,” he said.
“Narendra Modi is not doing this. Modi is not strengthening the system... If Modi gives better PDS and guarantees MSP and gives more mandis, then Ambani and Adani cannot make money,” the Congress leader alleged.
Gandhi, who is holding a series of tractor rallies named ''Kheti Bachao Yatra'' across the state to protest the Centre's new farm laws, accused the prime minister of “destroying” the system.
